Fathers Build Solid Foundations

FATHERS BUILD SOLID FOUNDATIONS

INTRODUCTION: A Father’s Most Important Responsibility

Show “Dad’s Duct Tape” video clip (bluefish TV)

As we could see from the video, fathers have many roles and responsibilities. Not only that, but we can be quite resourceful in finding ways to fulfill them. Our wives and neighbors might not always call it “resourcefulness,” but we sure are proud of it!

Seriously, now, what is a father’s most important responsibility? Love God? How? Teach and train his children in the Lord? But what does that mean? What exactly are we to teach them, especially when we still have so much to learn ourselves? And with so many competing ideas and theories out there, how are we to know which are the right and best ones and ways to pass them on?

You see, God’s Word is very clear that a Father’s most important responsibility is to ensure that his wife and children live lives that are a fragrant aroma before our Lord ! Like it or not, God has appointed husbands and fathers to be the ’Master Builders” of the family, and it is we whom He will most hold responsible for the condition of each one as well as the whole! In some cases, for a variety of reasons, that male role may be absent or negligent. In that case, the mother or primary caregiver must seek God’s strength and wisdom to fulfill this role.

In all cases, nothing of value and nothing lasting can be built unless a solid foundation is first established. Matthew 7:24-27. That foundation of solid rock is a clear and correct understanding and life application of the Word of God in ALL areas. In short, that foundation is sound doctrine! Fathers, caregivers, how sound is your doctrine? In understanding? In living? How intently or well are you transferring it to your family? On what is their faith built and how effectual is it?

Romans 10:10-21

A living faith is one which not only hears the Word of God, but which ceaselessly strives to understand and live it as well!

WHAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE?

Let us simply ’break it down’ for a fuller understanding.

“Sound,” as an adjective, comes from the Greek hugies which means “whole, healthy.” It is from this word that we get our English “hygiene.”

“Doctrine” comes from the Greek “didache,” which means “teaching.” In the active form it refers to the act of teaching and in the passive form it refers to that which is taught.

“Sound Doctrine,” then, may simply be understood as healthy, wholesome teaching which – when applied – results in healthy, wholesome lives!

WHY IS DOCTRINE SO IMPORTANT?

The recently deceased Jerry Falwell once lamented: “We’ve lost our way of thinking biblically. . . We’ve lost our biblical mind, and we have not put something better in its place. . . Why are so many Christians shallow? Because they’re not in the Bible. Why are so many Christians defeated by sin? Because they don’t think scripturally. . . The Bible is not just a slogan to put over your desk, or to hang on the walls of your home. . . We do not understand doctrine, because we do not know the Word of God. Why is the sin of Christians not corrected? Because they are not in the Word of God. Why are the men of God not perfect? Because they do not know God’s standards of perfection. Why is the church not doing good works? Because they do not have a Bible mind. . . What is the greatest power needed by the Church today? It is not the power of money from fund-raising, it is not the power of great crowds attracted by advertisement, it is not the power of excitement that comes from rhythm bands in the church. The greatest power is divine activity that takes place in the heart of the person who opens himself to the Bible. . . The believer doesn’t have a chance to live for God if he doesn’t have a biblical mind.” (From his sermon, “How Then Shall We Recover Our Biblical Mind.” www.sermoncentral.com)

Let us outline this more fully through Scripture itself:

1.) Sound doctrine is necessary for spiritual growth.

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

2.) It keeps us from sin.

Psalms 119:11

I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.

3.) It protects us from silver-tongued false teachers.

Romans 16:17-18

Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them; for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.